On November 8, 1935, a boy named Alain was born in a suburb about 80 kilometers from Paris. He would later become one of the most handsome men of his era. His mother was a pharmacist, but after his father opened a cinema, she worked there as a cashier. When Alain was just three, his parents separated and eventually remarried, giving him half-siblings on both sides.

His stepfather worked in a butcher’s shop, where his mother later joined him. With both adults busy, Alain was mostly cared for by a nanny. He split time between two households. While he initially enjoyed this, he later said it left him feeling uncared for. At school, Alain struggled. He was often in trouble and got expelled several times, forcing him to switch schools frequently.

He began training as a butcher, then worked briefly in a shop. Afterward, he joined the Army, which he said helped shape his character. Upon returning, he worked as a waiter, unaware that fame was just around the corner.